Smoke

[sonjack2847]

Is this the reason why many people are coughing here in Dalaguete?

 

 

The Philippines cancelled flights and put hospitals on alert on Sunday, as its southern and central islands were covered by thickening haze from Indonesian forest fires.

Smog from Indonesian slash-and-burn farming has choked vast expanses of Southeast Asia for weeks, killing at least 10 people, forcing events to be shut down and schools to close across the region.

International efforts to douse the blazes have done little to clear the air, and Filipino authorities warned ash levels were becoming increasingly dangerous in the southern islands.

"The department of health is advising those who have breathing problems or respiratory diseases to wear face masks in areas covered by haze," presidential spokesman Herminio Coloma told reporters.

Hospitals in the south were ready to receive anyone affected by the haze, he added.

Six flights to central and southern islands were cancelled or delayed Sunday due to the thickening smog, after thousands were left stranded over the past 10 days.

Pilots flying in the central city of Cebu could only see eight kilometres (five miles) ahead, said government weather observer John Agbay, adding that visibility was also impaired in the western island of Palawan.

Indonesian forest fires are an annual occurence, but dry weather has made them particularly bad this year and Malaysia, Singapore, Australia and Japan have all sent help to fight the blazes.

While the haze in the Philippines has been mild compared to other parts of Southeast Asia, the smoke has been largely unexpected as the islands affected lie thousands of kilometres away from the fires.

Singapore, one of the worst hit, on Sunday urged fellow ASEAN members to take "firm and decisive action" against ahead of a group summit in Malaysia next month.

The city-state issued the call after Singaporean troops and firefighters returned from an international assistance mission in Indonesia's Sumatra island.

Experts say Typhoon Koppu, which passed over the northern tip of the Philippines last week, may have contributed to the problem in the archipelago by dragging the smoke across from Indonesia.

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[Jack Peterson]

"The department of health is advising those who have breathing problems or respiratory diseases to wear face masks

 

Good Piece Kev but here in Dumaguete we have a fairly new Ordinance that actually Forbids the wearing of face masks ( with the exception of medical grounds and with supporting evidence if Stopped) yet again we have to wonder if these people are all singing from the same Hymn sheet.

 

This Ordinance the Mayor says is to stop the bad People being on the Streets YET! Yet I say, he and his Wife can be regularly be seen at times wearing them. HUH! is this another Go Figure issue.

Sorry mate I don't mean to jump on your Topic but...........................

 

Jack 

[sonjack2847]

It`s all relevant mate.

[RBM]

"The department of health is advising those who have breathing problems or respiratory diseases to wear face masks

 

Good Piece Kev but here in Dumaguete we have a fairly new Ordinance that actually Forbids the wearing of face masks ( with the exception of medical grounds and with supporting evidence if Stopped) yet again we have to wonder if these people are all singing from the same Hymn sheet.

 

This Ordinance the Mayor says is to stop the bad People being on the Streets YET! Yet I say, he and his Wife can be regularly be seen at times wearing them. HUH! is this another Go Figure issue.

Sorry mate I don't mean to jump on your Topic but...........................

 

Jack Scratch head.gif

Are you saying Jack it's illegal to wear a mask while riding on some of Dumaguetes polluted street.?

[Jack Peterson]

Are you saying Jack it's illegal to wear a mask while riding on some of Dumaguetes polluted street.?

 

 Yep! I will try and find the Ordinance and Post it up.

 

Jack :rolleyes:

Edit to insert Ordinance.

http://www.visayandailystar.com/2015/March/13/negor1.htm

It became an ordinance 2 moths Later

Edited October 26, 2015 by Jack Peterson

[sonjack2847]

Residents in Cebu are advised to wear goggles as protection from haze

They should also limit their outdoor activities and stay indoors, according to an EMB official

Haze emanates from Indonesian forest fires which has reached southern Philippines

Amid the haze that emanated from Indonesian forest fires which has reached southern Philippines, residents particularly in Cebu are advised to wear eye goggles and dust masks for protection. They must also stay indoors and keep their doors and windows closed.

 

 

 

The advice, according to an article written by Doris C. Bongcac and published by Philippine Daily Inquirer on October 24, came from Engr. William Cuñado, director of the Environment Management Bureau in Central Visayas (EMB-7); after air in Metro Cebu was found to have “high particulate” contents that were dangerous especially to those suffering from heart and respiratory diseases.

 

 

 

The EMB director stressed that people should limit outdoor exertion especially those with heart or respiratory disease, such as asthma and should stay indoors and rest as much as possible.

 

As revealed by Cuñado, the haze was a combination of smoke coming from forest fires in Indonesia and local pollutants which is expected to linger in Metro Cebu area for a few more days due to very low wind velocity of 0.1 meter per second.

 

Data from the air quality monitoring which EMB conducted showed that haze particulates in Metro Cebu’s air had become denser now compared to last month.

 

Cuñado asked Cebuanos to be health conscious and pray for heavy rain that would cleanse the air of pollutants.

 

The southern Philippine island of Mindanao is more than 1,200 kilometers from the nearest fires, but the haze has become a worsening problem across the island over the past week.

 

It has spread to the country’s central islands of Cebu and Negros on Friday which disrupted air traffic.

 

Civil Aviation Authority of the Philippines spokesman Eric Apolonio said eight domestic flights have been cancelled and dozens delayed since the problem began on October 16; affecting thousands of passengers.